Jammu, Apr 27 : The historic Mughal road, connecting the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian district, was reopened for one-way vehicular traffic on Wednesday after remaining closed for over four months due to heavy snowfall during the winter, officials said.
A traffic department official said the traffic on the road was allowed from Poonch towards Shopian around 9 am, marking the reopening of the alternate link between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
“The traffic will be restricted to one-way and will play alternatively from Poonch and Shopian for the time being as a precautionary measure,” he said, adding no fresh vehicle will be allowed on the road after 3 pm.
However, he said, the nomadic population moving along with their cattle from the higher reaches in search of greener pastures in Kashmir will be allowed uninterrupted.
The traffic department has deployed adequate number of personnel at Behramgala, Bufliaz and Poshana to facilitate smooth movement of the vehicles, the official said.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Raghav Langer ordered the reopening of the road, which was cleared of snow by the Mechanical Engineering Department after a hectic road clearance operation, the officials said.
The department had pressed its men and machines to clear the 84-km stretch from Bufliaz in Poonch to Shopian and managed to clear the road about two weeks ago but a decision for its reopening was delayed to ensure that the stretch is safe for the commuters.
The commuters have been asked to follow the traffic advisories issued by the traffic police authorities from time to time for smooth movement and regulation of heavy and light motor vehicles.
There has been a persistent demand from the locals for the early reopening of the Mughal road, an alternate road link between Kashmir and Jammu, which usually remains closed for several months during the winter.
The road was closed for vehicular traffic on December 23 last year after the high-altitude areas including Peer Ki Gali along the stretch received heavy snowfall.
The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway is the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, while Anantnag in south Kashmir and Kishtwar in the Jammu region is connected through Sinthan top and the road was briefly opened last week. (Agencies)
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